Many homeschool families, especially those who follow Charlotte Mason, keep a memory-work box: a shoebox or recipe box with index cards and tabs. It is spaced review on paper, the same idea that flashcard apps use.
| Tab | When the card comes up | Times in a 30-day month |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | every day | 30 |
| Odd or Even | every other day (odd or even dates) | 15 |
| A weekday (Mon to Sun) | once a week | 4 or 5 |
| A date (1 to 31) | once a month | 1 |
Key idea
A new card starts on Daily. When it is solid, it moves back: to Odd or Even, then to a weekday, then to a date. Each move means it comes up less often, just like the growing gaps of 1-3-7-21.
Worked example: Worked example
A card behind the Even tab. The month has 31 days. How many times will it come up?
- Even dates: 2, 4, 6, ..., 30.
- That is 30 ÷ 2 = 15 dates.
Answer: 15 times.
Worked example: Another example
A card is behind the Wed tab. The month starts on a Monday and has 30 days. How many times will it come up?
- The 1st is Monday, so the 3rd is the first Wednesday.
- Wednesdays: 3, 10, 17, 24. Next would be 31, which is past 30.
Answer: 4 times.
Common mistake
Moving a card back before it is solid. If you miss it, move it forward to a tab that comes up more often.
For parents. Keep it short: five to ten minutes a day. Say each card aloud first, then check. The Daily tab should stay small, a handful of new things at a time.